Söul Cräft

THE IMPRESSIONS - Check Out Your Mind!

Consider this one a hangover from the last post. Now that Spring has finally sprung, and everybody's hormones are scattering around aimlessly like rats in a slum fire, what could be more appropriate than thee smoooth harmonies of Messrs. Mayfield, Cash and Gooden? Everything from sweet 'n' sexy traditional R&B like the hit single "Can't You See" and "You're Really Something, Sadie," to the scorching, REVOLUTION NOW! iconoclasm of the title track. Many of the devices that have come to be associated with Mayfield's reign as solo star á la "Superfly," are here in abundance: the gigantic brass sections that add yet another layer of drama to ditties already heavy with it, the orchestral arrangements, the scratchy, wah-wah'd guitar figures... this would be Mayfield's final Hurrah with the group. But it's obvious he had to leave; no group coulda been big enough for him to unleash the vision "Check Your Mind!" provides mere sketches for. But what a way to bow out!

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BAD BRAINS - Quickness

Here we have the ugly middle child of the 'Brains discography. I seldom hear anybody ravin' or railin' against it, as though it never existed or sumpin'. This is where they made the leap to full-on metal, alienating a sizable chunk o' their punk audience in the process. They also managed to raise the hackles of gay rights groups with the (allegedly) homophobic "Don't Blow No Bubbles," which features the infamously stoopid line, "don't blow no fudge buns." Let's tackle that first, shall we? Some points to consider before forever condemning the boys to the --Jah forbid-- politically-incorrect dungeon:

1. HR is a schizophrenic who ignores his medication due to his Rasta beliefs; at least that seems to be the consensus from the various sources I've read and/or have heard from fans/friends.
2. The song seems to me to be more a case of religious zeal than actual hatred; a gesture of compassion towards the health of homosexuals, however misguided. I certainly don't get the impression he wanted his fans to take to the streets and beat up or kill gays. Before you jump to the conclusion that I consider that a genuinely valid excuse though, see # 3.
3. HR is batshit crazy.

The track is very easily skipped-- along with "Prophets Eye" (never could get into their reggae stuff, even though I dig reggae) as both suck as hard as a broken-down hooker with a head fulla crack and a pocket fulla lint (I actually considered leavin' 'em off as the listening experience is far smoother without 'em, but then ya'd end up with an EP)... but enough of this negativity: I have no desire to be an apologist or hand-wringer here. They are what they is. So onto the music itself, which stands the test of time much better than most albums released in 1989.

It wouldn't be completely outta line to suggest that "Quickness" coulda as easily been entitled, "I Against I: The Sequel" (Riffs from the "I" [the album's brief intro] are expanded upon/recycled in "Voyage Into Eternity" for the love of Beelzebub!). They take their funk-punk-metal hybrid to new heights here-- particularly due to the much improved production that adds extra chug to Dr. Know's chugga chugga power-chording and far more prevalent solos that were buried in the mix on previous outings. Obviously inspired by free jazz; they have an unglued, random-gobs-of-paint-thrown-at-the-wall feel, not unlike a steroid-juiced version of James Blood Ulmer. HR is in fine form as well chewin' up syllables and spittin' 'em atcha like shrapnel with total disregard for melody or meter-- particularly on almost-MTV hit, "Soul Craft," and "With the Quickness," which is a celebration of their genre-hopping. Shit, that track has launched entire careers of (much) lesser bands whom I won't dignify by so much as typing their names.

This is far from a masterpiece-- in fact, in hindsight it seems inevitable that the band would implode not long after its release-- be it for reasons I've already touched on, or the painful fact that by the time this opus comes to end, you're left thinking they'd run unmercifully short on ideas. I've never been able to sit through an entire 'Brains LP since, truth be told. So, "Quickness" despite its inconsistencies, will hafta serve as an epitaph for one of the most influential bands of the 1980's.

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